ABSTRACT

                The thesis entitled ‘Life in Theravada Buddhist Philosophy’ consists of 3 objectives as 1) to study the components of human life in the perspective of Buddhist philosophy, 2) to investigate the truth of human life and 3) to explore the development for the goal of human life.The thesis is derived from a documentary based research                                                                                                   The result revealed that life in Buddhist philosophy consists of materiality (kãya) and mentality (citta) forming together with the correlation and coordination. Life in the perspective of Theravada Buddhist philosophy is no being created by supernatural power but life has come from many factors combined together properly.

                In reality the nature of life is the state of impermanence in accordance with the natural law of Tilakkhana : Three Characteristics of Existence, that is to say, Aniccatã refers to the fact that all conditioned things are in a constant state of flux.  Dukkhatã refers to bodily and mental pleasant feelings; because they are the cause for the arising of pain when they change and Anattatã or state of being not self.

                According to Theravada Buddhist philosophy, life development consists of two important factors, they are mentality and materiality in order to reach the absolute gaol of life in mundane and supra-mundane state.  In the Buddhist perspective, there should be developed in mind and body together.  Meanwhile the mind is usually focused because it is to believe that mind is the forerunner of life process and leads to the ultimate goal of life called Nibbana.